Wishbook Catalogs Gift Ideas For Needy

December 4, 1985|By Lauren Ritchie of The Sentinel Staff

Edgar wants a plant for Christmas, a plain old house plant.

He is crazy about them. But unless someone chooses Life Concepts Inc. as a Christmas service project, Edgar, a retarded adult who lives at one of the group's shelter homes, probably will not get his wish.

Life Concepts is one of 111 non-profit organizations with Christmas needs listed in the 1985-86 Wishbook published by the Volunteer Service Bureau. Edgar is just one of thousands of people served by those 111 organizations in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.

The eighth edition of the book, first published in early November, is sent to service clubs and groups that have donated time, money or services to the organizations that do everything from caring for orphans to helping battered women to various arts projects.

This year, 1,700 copies of the book have been mailed to various churches and clubs, said Julie Washburn, executive director of the Volunteer Service Bureau, a clearinghouse for volunteers. The book gives the name of the organization needing help, its purpose, its holiday wishes and year-long dreams.

Some of the organizations, particularly those supporting children, have groups who regularly donate each Christmas. For others, finding holiday help is a little tougher.

Washburn said that non-profit groups benefiting retarded adults and various mental health projects traditionally have a more difficult time finding sponsors to fulfill their wishes.

''People just don't want to give to those people and yet program participants get so excited when somebody does something for them,'' she said. ''For example, the sheltered workshops for the developmentally disabled: Those people can come and work and get paid a little.

''That's their whole life. They always have a little banquet for them at Christmas. And they always have a real struggle finding little gifts,'' Washburn said.

This year, Life Concepts, which houses 130 mostly retarded adults, half of whom are in wheelchairs, and runs a workshop for 65 people, is starting and adopt-an-adult program. Joyce DeCristoforo, health coordinator of Life Concepts, has a list of 32 of her agency's clients who have either outlived their families or whose families are unable to provide Christmas for them.

A person who wanted to could provide a Christmas for a certain client, she said. In addition to plants, Edgar wants a wall-hanging for his room, a keycase and medium-size T-shirts.

Another client, Paul, wants a shirt, a sweater, aftershave lotions and a tie.

''We've got one guy who would give his right arm for leather craft types of things and another who would enjoy cassettes of guitar music,'' she said.

The group has a long list of other needs that range from subscriptions to newspapers and magazines to board games and household items.

''We'll wrap, we'll shop, we'll do anything,'' DeCristoforo said.

That is the attitude of all of the groups listed in the Wishbook, said Washburn.

This year, the Orlando Women's Adjustment Center, which is asking in the Wishbook for landscaping material, has turned the tables and is planning to donate to another group in the Wishbook. Residents at the center, a halfway house for women coming out of prison, are planning to throw a New Year's Eve party at a nursing home. The women will be dressing in 1920s costumes, Washburn said.

Other agencies that have a difficult time finding sponsors include:

-- The Christian Prison Ministries, a group that helps families of prisoners and men being released from prison. Washburn said many are strugging to ''keep the family afloat'' and sometimes ''hardly have money for food.'' The group is asking for food baskets and men's and women's clothing.

-- Central Florida Sheltered Workshop, which provides educational and vocational training for handicapped people over age 16. That group needs 180 small personal items for Christmas gifts and a continuing supply of yarn, rug kits, macrame cord and other craft items over the year.

Some of these groups want the most precious gift of all: time.

The Boys Club of Central Florida, for example, wants volunteers. Volunteers are the critical cog in the wheel that keeps the clubs running, said Frank Moletteire, executive director.

He is desperate for a dramatics instructor and a singing teacher. But he also needs volunteers to help with a variety of other activities.

''If you don't have the people, you can't have the program,'' he said.

Another group looking for volunteers is the Federation of Senior Citizens Clubs of Seminole County. Drivers are needed for the Meals-on-Wheels project, which feeds shut-ins.

Some of the organizations have unusual requests: The American Red Cross Central Florida Chapter needs mannequins; the Casselberry Senior Center wants 150 placemats; and the Central Florida Food Bank needs a freezer.

The Wishbook is sent out now because most people start thinking of others just after Thanksgiving, Washburn said.

''Even in our little staff, we all bring something for someone in the book. We find that more satisfying than exchanging gifts,'' she said.

''There are so many more needs each year. There are a lot more senior citizens each year and that can be a depressing, lonely time for them. It's these little special things that make a difference,'' she said.

''Five years ago, we had a woman who wanted to sponsor one family for a Christmas dinner. That year, she ended up doing five families. This year, she's doing 50,'' she said.

''You never know. You start small and people catch the fire and it just grows,'' Washburn said.